Accountant salary and cost of hiring in District of Columbia
The median accountant in District of Columbia earned $111,530 a year in May 2025[1], 33.3% above the US median of $83,680. That puts District of Columbia at #1 of 51 states for this job.
BLS occupation 13-2011. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Salary range
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $71,470 | $111,530 | $185,220 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
The middle half of accountants in District of Columbia earns $83,050–$156,730; the top tenth earns $185,220 or more, 2.6 times the bottom tenth.
What a hire really costs
Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2]. At the District of Columbia median that makes about $159,329 a year before recruiting, equipment and office space. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for accountants we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Pay by metro area in District of Columbia
| Area | Median | 75th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $133,430 | 41,470 |
What an accountant does
An accountant goes beyond bookkeeping: month-end close, financial statements, budgets, management reports and support for audits and tax filings.
Neighbours in the ranking
| State | Median | vs District of Columbia |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | +0.0% | |
| New York | -8.0% | |
| New Jersey | -9.6% |
Questions
How much does an accountant earn in District of Columbia?
The median was $111,530 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $83,050 to $156,730.
What does it cost to employ an accountant in District of Columbia?
About $159,329 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).
Where in District of Columbia do accountants earn the most?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, with a median of $102,140 a year.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 13-2011: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes132011.htm
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm
- Silkstaff pricing: https://silkstaff.com/#pricing
- Deel pricing, contractor management: https://www.deel.com/pricing/
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-05.